Hawaii
Hawaii is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean and part of the United States. It is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts offering abundant watersport activities from surfing, boating, snorkeling and more. It has incredible hiking and amazing state and national parks. It has a rich heritage from hula dancing. There are eight main islands including Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Hawaii (Big Island), Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. The most visited island by tourists is Oahu which is home to Honolulu and Waikiki Beach. This is followed by Maui known for its scenic Road to Hana. The third most visited is Hawaii, also known at the Big Island, which is known for its active volcanos. You will be mesmerized by all this state has to offer.
Getting to Hawaii
The best way to get to Hawaii is by plane. The largest airport in Hawaii is the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu on Oahu. The Kahului Airport (OGG) serves the island of Maui. There are two major airports on the Big Island: Kona International Airport (KOA) and the Hilo International Airport (ITO). The Lihue Airport (LIH) is located on the island of Kauai.
If you only have a week, I would recommend flying directly to the island you plan to explore. If you have more time you can take flights between the islands. Another great way to explore Hawaii is by cruise. You can take a cruise to or around Hawaii.
Getting around
This itinerary is a driving tour so renting a car is a must. If you do not want to rent a car there are other ways to get around such as shuttles, taxis, ride-shares. Many people when visiting Hawaii set up at a resort and can take day tours from their accommodations. I definitely prefer the flexibility to have a car. Plus if you want to do the Road to Hana in Maui it is a must!
nine day Maui itinerary
Day One- flight to Maui
We were flying from the east coast in the USA. This involved two layovers but you can also get there with one layover. The layovers to Hawaii are often from California. It is pretty far away so this day was just a day of travel. Our flight left Baltimore at 10 AM eastern time and landed in Maui at 8:40 PM the next day. We immediately headed to pick up our rental car. We picked a place to stay right near the airport because we knew we would be exhausted. We ended up at the Seaside Hotel Maui, which was perfect for a hot shower, a sleep and breakfast. This place did have a nice pool and Wi-Fi too.
DAY TWO-Northwest Maui
The drive from Kahului to Wailea going around the northwest portion of the island is about a 2 hour and 15 minute drive without any stops. On the way, our first stop was the Waihee Ridge Trail. We did this hike but as we made it to the summit it was shrouded in clouds so unfortunately, we did not get the epic view it typically gives. We followed along the coast and got some great views. A friend who had been to Maui before recommended Monkeypod Restaurant in Kaanapali so we stopped there for lunch. We then proceeded down to Wailea where our accommodations were. We spent the next several nights based out of Wailea as I was there for a medical conference. We stayed at What a Wonderful World Bed and Breakfast which was wonderful!
DAY THREE-Wailea and Maui Brewing Co
Since I was at a medical conference the mornings were spent in lectures and afternoons were free. Today we went to Maui Brewing Co for a tour. It was a really fun experience! We also watched sunset on Wailea Beach. You can see whales breeching right from the shore.
DAY FOUR-Maluaka Beach and Makena Beach State Park
The morning was spent in lectures and Thomas was able to golf at The Dunes of Maui Lani. In the afternoon, we headed to Maluaka Beach which is known for its snorkeling with turtles and it did not disappoint! After that we headed to Makena Beach State Park. We were able to climb a little for some epic views and then watched the sunset on Makena Beach. Makena Beach is about 4.5 miles from downtown Wailea which is about a 10 minute drive.
DAY Five-ʻĪao Valley State Monument and Haleakalā National Park
Today was packed with exploration. We first headed to the ʻĪao Valley State Monument which is in the central part of the island. The drive from Wailea to this monument is about 19 miles and 35 minutes. After exploring here we headed to the Haleakalā National Park. Though it was a beautiful day on the island the volcano was shrouded with clouds. It actually was pretty chilly and did some raining as well so prepare for that. We saw some incredible rainbows. We stayed to watch sunset above the clouds. Of note the road there and back is winding. Getting there for sunrise or leaving after sunset means driving in the dark. We elected to stay for sunset because you needed a ticket to be there for sunrise. If you want to do this make sure to plan ahead and book your tickets and dress warm!
DAY SIX-Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve
After some morning lectures from the medical conference, we headed to the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. Here we did the Hoapili hike and got to see an incredible rainbow and walk amongst the lava. This is 6 miles from Wailea and a 15 minute drive.
DAY Seven- Road to Hana
Today we headed from Wailea to Hana on the scenic and iconic road to Hana. There are so many incredible stops along the way. Some of the must see stops include: Ho’okipa Beach Park, Twin Falls, Honomanu Bay, Wailua Valley State Wayside, and the Upper Waikani Falls. The total drive from Wailea to Hana is 2 hours and 18 minutes without the stops. We spent the night in Hana at the Hana Inn.
DAY eight- Road Past Hana
Waking up in Hana, we planned to continue on to the Seven Sacred Pools and Pipiwai Trail in the other portion of the Haleakalā National Park. After this portion the road gets a little rough. Some car rentals do not allow cover you to drive the back road to Hana so either check with your rental company or proceed at your own risk. Some of the top things to stop at include the Saint Joseph Church of 1862 and Manawainui Gulch. We then headed to our last night accommodation the Peace of Mind Bed and Breakfast. This entire drive was 2 hours and 18 minutes without stops.
DAY nine- Flight home
After breakfast and some relaxation we headed to the airport for our flight home. The flight left around noon and landed back in Baltimore after a layover in San Francisco. It landed the following day at 6:50 AM.
Plan your trip
If you haven’t made it to Hawaii yet, consider this your inspiration to go. It is beyond beautiful and you will not be disappointed. We loved week in Maui and I can say without a doubt we will be back. We only scratched the surface of all the incredible things this state has to offer! Can’t wait to check out another island in Hawaii!
